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Gun Sale Prompts Lines Outside Newington Store

Police were called in to control traffic, and prevent customers from filling up the parking lots of other businesses, during a sale at Hoffman’s Gun Center in Newington. Gun sales have increased since the Sandy Hook shooting. Photo by WTIC’s Matt Dwyer

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Newington Police were called in to direct traffic on the Berlin Turnpike Friday as would-be customers lined up outside Hoffman’s Gun Center, hoping to buy a rifle and magazine some lawmakers want to ban.

The store had a sale on semi-automatic Smith and Wesson Military & Police 15 rifles sold as a package with ammunition, and 30-round magazines. The M & P 15 is similar to the gun used in the Newtown shooting. The gunman used a 30 round magazine.

Hoffman’s owner referred a reporter to a statement on the shop’s Facebook page, which said “the gun center fully supports our right to legally possess firearms.”

Gun sales have increased since the Sandy Hook shooting, as gun enthusiasts worry that some firearms might be taken off the market.

Hoffman’s recently announced it would sell assault-style rifles only to those with pistol permits.